Search Results (28 total)

We describe the status of our effort to realize a first neutrino factory and the progress made in understanding the problems associated with the collection and cooling of muons towards that end. We summarize the physics that can be done with neutrino factories as well as with intense cold beams of muons. The physics potential of muon colliders is reviewed, both as Higgs factories and compact high-energy lepton colliders. The status and time scale of our research and development effort is reviewed as well as the latest designs in cooling channels including the promise of ring coolers in achieving longitudinal and transverse cooling simultaneously. We detail the efforts being made to mount an international cooling experiment to demonstrate the ionization cooling of muons.

The status of the research on muon colliders is discussed and plans are outlined for future theoretical and experimental studies. Besides work on the parameters of a 3–4 and 0.5 TeV center-of-mass (COM) energy collider, many studies are now concentrating on a machine near 0.1 TeV (COM) that could be a factory for the s-channel production of Higgs particles. We discuss the research on the various components in such muon colliders, starting from the proton accelerator needed to generate pions from a heavy-Z target and proceeding through the phase rotation and decay (π→μν_μ) channel, muon cooling, acceleration, storage in a collider ring, and the collider detector. We also present theoretical and experimental R&D plans for the next several years that should lead to a better understanding of the design and feasibility issues for all of the components. This report is an update of the progress on the research and development since the feasibility study of muon colliders presented at the Snowmass '96 Workshop [R. B. Palmer, A. Sessler, and A. Tollestrup, Proceedings of the 1996 DPF/DPB Summer Study on High-Energy Physics (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA, 1997)].

The production of μ^-e⁺ dileptons by muon neutrinos is studied in a high-statistics bubble-chamber experiment. The experiment consisted of exposing the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a heavy Ne-H₂ mix to a wideband neutrino beam. In a total sample of 146 700±11 700 charged-current interactions, 461 events with an e⁺(P_e⁺>300 MeV/c) and a μ^- are observed. The rate for μ^-e⁺ dilepton production in measured to be (0.42±0.06)%. The energy dependence of this rate is presented. The kinematic distributions for the μ^-e⁺ events are consistent with charm production and subsequent semileptonic decay. A total of 60 K_S⁰ and 31 Λ⁰ decays were observed in the μ^-e⁺ event sample. The measured rates for neutral-strange-particle production are 0.78±0.12 K⁰ / K̅ ⁰'s and 0.19±0.04 Λ⁰'s per μ^-e⁺ event. Finally, rates for Λ_c⁺, D⁰, and D⁺ production in charged-current ν_μ interactions are derived. They are found to be (4_-2⁺¹⁰)%, (1.7_-0.7^+0.5)%, and (1.3_-0.5^+0.4)%, respectively.

The weak nucleon axial-vector (F_A) and vector (F_V) form factors are determined from the momentum-transfer-squared (Q²) distributions using 2538μ^-p and 1384μ^-Δ⁺⁺ events. The data were obtained from 1 800 000 pictures taken in the BNL 7-foot deuterium-filled bubble chamber exposed to a wide-band neutrino beam with a mean energy E_ν=1.6 GeV. In the framework of the conventional V-A theory with standard assumptions, the value obtained from the μ^-p events for the axial-vector mass M_A in the pure dipole parameterization is 1.070^+0.040_-0.045 GeV and from the μ^-Δ⁺⁺ events is 1.28^+0.08_-0.10 GeV. These results are in good agreement with an earlier measurement from this experiment and other recent results. The reaction mechanisms for both processes are compared and found to be very similar. A two-parameter fit for the quasielastic reaction, using dipole forms for F_V and F_A yields M_A=0.97_-0.11^+0.14 GeV and M_V=0.89_-0.07^+0.04 GeV, which is in good agreement with the conserved-vector-current value of M_V=0.84 GeV. Possible deviations from the standard assumptions are also discussed.

A total of 1403ν_e and 179ν̅ _e charged-current interactions with energies ranging up to 200 GeV were observed in a wideband neutrino-beam experiment using the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a heavy Ne-H₂ mix. As a test of ν_μ-ν_e universality, these events were compared to samples of ν_μ and ν̅ _μ charged-current events obtained during the same experiment. The ν_e-to-ν_μ cross-section ratio was measured to be 1.09±0.17, and the corresponding ratio for antineutrinos was 1.46±0.34. Kinematic distributions and charged-particle multiplicities were also consistent with universality. The neutral-strange-particle production rate was measured to be (11.7±1.2)% for ν_e and (5.2±2.2)% for ν̅ _e, in good agreement with the ν_μ and ν̅ _μ rates. The relative rate for e^-e⁺ dilepton production by ν_e was (0.82±0.47)%, also consistent with universality. The rate for neutral-strange-particle production in e^-e⁺ dilepton events is reported for the first time. The measured rate of 0.64±0.45 agrees with the value expected from universality.

A total of 22 muon-neutrino-electron elastic-scattering events (ν_μe→ν_μe) have been observed in an exposure of the Fermilab 15-foot bubble chamber filled with a heavy neon-hydrogen mixture to a wide-band neutrino beam. The elastic-scattering cross section is measured to be 1.67±0.44×10^-42E_ν cm² GeV^-1. The value of the weak mixing angle (sin²θ_W) determined from this cross section, which is consistent with other measurements of this angle, is 0.20_-0.05^+0.06.

We have observed a signal of 55 isolated γ-conversion pairs produced in a wide-band neutrino beam using the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a heavy Ne-H₂ mixture. The signal is consistent with coherent neutral-current single-π⁰ production followed by decay of the π⁰ with one of the decay γ's being lost. This signal corresponds to a rate of (2.0 ± 0.4) × 10^-4 of the total ν_μ charged-current cross section at our average E_ν of 20 GeV. From this result, we obtain a value of β=0.98±0.24 for the weak-neutral-current isovector axial-vector coupling.

High-statistics data from two exposures of the BNL 7-foot deuterium bubble chamber to a wide-band-neutrino beam with an average energy of 1.6 GeV were analyzed for exclusive pion production in charged-current neutrino-deuterium interactions. For the single-pion production reactions, the properties of Δ⁺⁺ production and decay as well as the final results of an isospin analysis are presented. New results for single-pion and multipion production are also presented.

A search for neutrino oscillations was made using the Fermilab narrow-band neutrino beam and the 15-ft bubble chamber. No positive signal for neutrino oscillations was observed. The 90%-C.L. upper limits for ν_μ→ν_e, ν_μ→ν_τ, and ν_μ↛ν_e were found to be R_μ→e<0.56×10³, R_μ→τ<4.4×10^-2, and R_e↛e<0.27.

We report a study of strange-particle production from 61?0 charged-current ν_μNe interactions in the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber. The observed sample consists of 2279 K⁰, 1843 Λ (including 94 Σ⁰), 93 Λ¯, and 4 Ξ^-. We give inclusive production rates for each of these, as well as the rates for specific single-, double-, and triple-vee channels. From these we derive the rates for associated production of ss¯ quark pairs, and for single-s-quark production via charm decay. The dependence of K⁰ and Λ production on E_ν, Q², W², x_B, and y_B are given. Normalized distributions of Feynman x, rapidity, fragmentation variable z, and transverse momentum squared are obtained for K⁰ and Λ, and compared with those for charged pions. QCD predictions on the behavior of 〈P_T ²〉 are tested.

We have searched for the production of like-sign dilepton events (ν_μ+Ne→μ^-+e^-+…) in a wide-band neutrino beam at Fermilab using the 15-ft bubble chamber. We observe no signal above the background arising from conventional sources. We set 90%-confidence-level upper limits for the production rates of (ν_μ+Ne→μ^-+e^-+…) / (ν_μ+Ne→μ^-+…)<~0.76×10^-4 and (ν_μ+Ne→μ^-+e^-+…) / (ν_μ+Ne→μ^-+e⁺+…)<~5.3×10^-2.

We report a study of multiplicities in ν_μNe charged-current interactions. The data were obtained at Fermilab, using the wide-band neutrino beam incident on the 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a neon-hydrogen mixture. We measure a mean positive-charge excess of 0.58±0.02, and show that it consists mainly of ‘‘grey protons,’’ i.e., protons in the momentum range 0.2 to 1.0 GeV/c. The average number of secondary collisions in the intranuclear cascade is found to be 1.16±0.04. The distribution of the number of grey protons is in good agreement with the model of Andersson, Otterlund, and Stenlund.

We report on a high-statistics bubble-chamber experiment using the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a heavy neon/hydrogen mixture exposed to a wide-band neutrino beam. In a sample of 106 000 ν_μ &>0.3 GeV/c) and a negative muon were observed. After corrections, the rate for opposite-sign dilepton production for ν_μ charged-current events is (0.52±0.09)%. The E_ν dependence of this rate from threshold to ≊200 GeV is presented. The kinematic distributions and strange-particle content of the dilepton events are consistent with those expected from charm-particle production in neutrino interactions. A total of 58 neutral strange particles (Λ→pπ^-, K_S⁰→π⁺π^-) are observed in these events, where less than 16 are expected from conventional charged-current interactions. The presence of a significant excess of Λ’s is evidence for substantial charmed-baryon production.

Distributions of the Bjorken scaling variables x and y, and the structure function F₊(x), are presented both for neutral-current and for charged-current ν_μ interactions. The data were obtained by use of the Fermilab 15-ft neon bubble chamber exposed to a narrow-band ν_μ beam. Results are based on 151 neutral-current and 683 charged-current events. An important feature of the neutral-current analysis is the event-by-event reconstruction of the outgoing neutrino.

We have measured the cross-section ratio R=σ(νpπ^-) / σ(μ^-pπ⁺)=0.11±0.023, 0.13±0.023, 0.15±0.025 for M_pπ<1.4, 1.6, 2.0 GeV, respectively, in the energy range 0.4<E_ν<3.0 GeV. The data are consistent with various weak one-pion production models incorporating the Weinberg-Salam structure of neutral currents.

The Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber, filled with a heavy neon-hydrogen mix, was exposed to a narrow-band ν_μ beam. Based on the observation of 830 charged-current ν_μ interactions, the cross section was found consistent with a linear rise with the neutrino energy in the interval 10 GeV<~E_ν≲240 GeV. The average slope was determined to be σ_ν / E_ν=(0.62±0.05)×10^-38 cm² GeV^-1.

The total cross sections for ν_μn and ν_μp charged-current interactions and their ratio R=σ_T(νn) / σ_T(νp) have been measured as a function of neutrino energy from 0.4 to 10 GeV. The experiment is performed using the BNL 7-foot deuterium bubble chamber exposed to the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron wide-band neutrino beam. The absolute values of the cross sections are normalized to the quasielastic scattering (ν_μn→μ^-p) cross section. Above 1.6 GeV the data are consistent with the quark-parton model. We find that σ_T(νn) / E_ν=(1.07±0.05)×10^-38, σ_T(νp) / E_ν=(0.54±0.04)×10^-38, and σ_T(νN) / E_ν=(0.80±0.03)×10^-38 cm²/GeV for 〈E_ν〉=3.2 GeV, and R=1.95±0.10 for 〈E_ν〉=3.7 GeV.

Strange-particle production in charged-current and neutral-current neutrino interactions has been studied using the BNL 7-foot deuterium bubble chamber. A total of 37 charged-current and 9 neutral-current events in the data sample contain one or more strange particles. Three events have ΔS≠0. The measured total rate for neutral V⁰ production in charged-current interactions is (4.2±1.0)%. Cross sections are given for low-multiplicity reactions involving neutral strange particles.

A search for neutrino oscillations in a wide-band neutrino beam at Fermilab with use of the 15-ft bubble chamber is reported. No evidence is found for neutrino oscillations and upper limits are set on the mixing angles and neutrino mass differences in the transitions ν_μ→ν_e, ν_μ→ν_τ, and ν_e→ν_^∼e, where ∼e denotes "not e."

The quasielastic reaction ν_μn→μ^-p was studied in an experiment using the BNL 7-foot deuterium bubble chamber exposed to the wide-band neutrino beam with an average energy of 1.6 GeV. A total of 1138 quasielastic events in the momentum-transfer range Q²=0.06-3.00 (GeV/c)² were selected by kinematic fitting and particle identification and were used to extract the axial-vector form factor F_A(Q²) from the Q² distribution. In the framework of the conventional V-A theory, we find that the dipole parametrization is favored over the monopole. The value of the axial-vector mass M_A in the dipole parametrization is 1.07±0.06 GeV, which is in good agreement with both recent neutrino and electroproduction experiments. In addition, the standard assumptions of conserved vector current and no second-class currents are checked.

The isospin structure of weak single-pion production in the reactions νp→μ^-pπ⁺, νn→μ^-pπ⁰, and νn→μ^-nπ⁺ has been studied using the 7-foot deuterium bubble chamber exposed to a wide-band neutrino beam at BNL. We find that the I=1 / 2 Nπ amplitude is substantial even in the Δ(1232) mass region and the relative phase angle ψ is approximately 90° as predicted by the Adler model.

In a broadband neutrino exposure of the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber, we observe the production of the Σ_c⁺⁺(2426) charmed baryon followed by its decay to Λ_c⁺(2260) and π⁺. We find the mass of the Λ_c⁺ to be 2257±10 MeV and the m(Σ_c⁺⁺)-m(Λ_c⁺) mass difference to be 168±3 MeV. Previously unseen two-body decay modes of the Λ_c⁺(2260) are observed.

We have observed 34 events with visible strange-particle production out of a total charged-current sample of 4500 events in a wide-band neutrino exposure of the Brookhaven National Laboratory 7-ft bubble chamber filled with H₂ or D₂. Three events were uniquely identified as having single-strange-particle production, two with ΔS=-ΔQ. In both ΔS=-ΔQ events we observe the Λ_c⁺(2260), which in one case decays to Λπ⁺π⁺π^- and in the second case to pK̅ ⁰π^-π⁺. Production rates are given.

We have observed eleven events of the reaction ν_μe^-→ν_μe^- in a sample of 106 000 charged-current neutrino interactions in a heavy neon-hydrogen mixture in the 15-ft. bubble chamber at Fermilab. We obtain a cross section for this process of [(1.8±0.8)×10^-42 cm²/GeV]E_ν. This result is in good agreement with the prediction of the Weinberg-Salam model with sin²θ_W=0.2.